State of Emergency: Reps Back Tinubu’s Declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers
By: Olufemi Orunsola
The House of Representatives and the Senate have approved President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, invoking its constitutional powers under the amended 1999 Constitution.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that with the approval now granted President Tinubu, the President can now constitutionally enforce emergency measures while mandating a review of the situation at any time, but no later than six months.
OTN News further reports that the National Assembly has also imposed a joint committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of affairs in Rivers State during the emergency period.
Also, the Senate has resolved to establish a mediation committee consisting of eminent Nigerians to help resolve the state’s political crisis.
Like the Senate, the House of Representatives had earlier approved Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
Following a voice vote, the lawmakers backed Tinubu’s decision, two days after the President made the move.
Two hundred and forty House of Representative members attended the preliminary which was presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
While deliberating on the decision, the House made some amendments including that a committee of eminent Nigerians will be set up to mediate on the matter.
They also noted that the National Assembly is empowered to make law for a state where its house of assembly is unable to perform its functions as against the Federal Government’s plan for the Federal Executive Council to take up that duty.
OTN News recalls that President Bola Tinubu had during the swearing-in of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator for Rivers State in Abuja on March 19, 2025, ddescribed the decision as a tough but necessary decision in the overall interest of the state and the country at large.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu wielded the big stick in Rivers, declaring a state of emergency in the state, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, appointing a sole administrator to take charge of the state in a move that has triggered a wave of criticisms.
Although many Legal luminaries, governors, and prominent Nigerian politicians like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi among others have strongly condemned the proclamation, demanding a reversal, there is overwhelming support for the move among Nigerian legislators.
However, the Federal Government has doubled down on Tinubu’s decision and argued that it was needed to bring peace to the state.
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